Estate Issues for Women

“

A man is not a financial plan

Kim Kiyosaki

Women need to be especially conscious and educated about their estate planning. There was a line edited out of the famous Destiny’s Child song that advised: “All the women who independent, get your estate planning done.” It wasn’t a particularly catchy line, so we don’t blame them for editing it. But the concept is sound.

Women are:

more likely to outlive their spouses

more likely to be caregivers of elderly family members

tend to have less in retirement than their male counterparts

We help women (and men!) set financial goals and make estate plans that work.

Some examples of how we can help you:

Prenuptial agreement

Smart women protect their assets–so don’t take on your fiancée’s debts. Many successful marriages are made stronger by having clear financial boundaries spelled out in a prenuptial agreement.

Will naming guardianship of children—Women and men with minor children need to name guardians for their minor children in their wills. This is especially important for single parents, who often, are single mothers. In the event of a death without a will, the state will decide who gets your minor children. And we’re going to go ahead and guess that you’d rather do that.

Power of Attorney

If you’re caring for your elderly parent or a disabled spouse, you are probably going to need to act on their behalf at some point. A power of attorney can make you an agent for your loved ones.

A will

Unless you sign a will providing otherwise, all of your assets will be distributed according to Oregon law. For unmarried women with no kids, this means that their assets might go to their parents or siblings instead of their favorite charities, their best friend, or their significant other.